COMMENTARY

So that brings an end to yet another double-header. Still two more double-header days to go, before this monster tournament comes to an end. Tomorrow's 1st match will see Bangalore v Chennai, and the 2nd one will be between Kolkata and Hyderabad. Hope you've enjoyed our coverage of today's games. We've had a ball bringing it to you. Until tomorrow, have a great night and sleep tight. Alvida for now!

Shaun Marsh: 'It was nice to get a few, enjoyed batting with Manan as well. The bowlers were fantastic. The pitch was pretty good, the odd one held up a bit for the spinners. Was sort of lucky that it got stuck, it was nice to get that (talking about his running catch). Good that we have got some impetus going into the playoffs.'

Shaun Marsh is the Man of the Match for his 40 off 35 balls. He also took a fab running catch.

Bailey: 'It's nice to know that we are playing consistent cricket. That's something we have been speaking about. Had a good chat before the game, about the basics and what we need to do and I think we did that. We seem to have a lot of batters getting to 20-30, but the really pleasing thing tonight was keeping wickets in hand and we kept building partnerships which was important. We have had a pretty blessed run with bringing guys in and they are doing well. Karanveer Singh was outstanding tonight, he has waited patiently for his chance. Akshar Patel, we rarely mention him now, but he keeps doing what he does'

Watson: 'We did not execute things right. It was a very good wicket. I'm a culprit for losing my wicket. Jimmy and Hodgy did a great job to get us close. Jimmy has been incredible with the ball and bat for the last 12 months. We have to pick ourselves from tonight and be at our best against Mumbai. It will be a knockout game.'

One team and one man who would be very happy with the result would be Mumbai and Rohit Sharma. Rohit had said earlier on in the day, that they would be carefully watching the game. Must be a happy man, Rohit tonight. The match between Mumbai and Rajasthan on Sunday will now be a virtual quarter-final for the last playoff spot. Coming back to the chase, Dhawan's consecutive wickets of Rahane and Watson was a major factor for the innings going pear-shaped. Do stay tuned for the presentation..

Questionable tactics from Rajasthan has cost them today. Especially with the bat. Why send in Tewatia, when the side has big hitters like Hodge, Faulkner and Cooper - who could each single-handedly win them the game. That move and also one could ask why was Binny sent ahead of the imports, when the chase was begging for some momentum injection. Once the asking rate touched almost impossible proportions, late heroics from Hodge and Faulkner only reduced the margin of defeat.

End of over 20 ( 14 Runs )

JAI 163/8

Vikramjeet Malik* 1(2)

James Faulkner 35(13)

19.6

Beuran Hendricks to Vikramjeet Malik

1

1 run, Punjab keep Mumbai alive with a comprehensive win. Pulled away without any timing to deep mid-wicket. Just a single. Bailey is all smiles, while Maxwell gets a mini hug from Preity Zinta. Glum faces in the Rajasthan camp, where Rahul Dravid could be seen shaking his head.

19.5

Beuran Hendricks to James Faulkner

1

1 run, Faulkner swivels and pulls to fine leg, this time takes the single

19.4

Beuran Hendricks to James Faulkner

6

SIX, length balls to him and inevitably it will go for a biggie. Faulkner getting under a full delivery and lofts it miles into the stands at wide long-on. But a bit all too late

30 runs for James Faulkner

19.3

Beuran Hendricks to James Faulkner

0

no run, no he can't! That should be game over. Fine yorker length delivery on the stumps, dug out, towards long-off, Faulkner declines the single

19.2

Beuran Hendricks to James Faulkner

6

SIX, game still alive. Just alive. Full and on middle, Faulkner lofts it way over long-on. Can he do a Kapil Dev?

150 runs for JAI

19.1

Beuran Hendricks to James Faulkner

0

no run, how did that miss the off stump? Low full toss, Faulkner swings too early and the ball just missed kissing the base of off. Beuran Hendricks thought he had bowled out the Aussie

Beuran Hendricks [3.0-0-43-0] is back into the attack

End of over 19 ( 18 Runs )

JAI 149/8

Vikramjeet Malik* 0(1)

James Faulkner 22(8)

18.6

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Vikramjeet Malik

0

no run, they turn down the single to long-on. Faulkner will keep strike

Malik is spoken to by Faulkner. The Aussie wants to keep the strike. Malik has to hit this out of the park.

18.5

Lakshmipathy Balaji to James Faulkner

1

1 run, low full toss, slapped hard and flat on the bounce to long-off. Just a single

18.4

Lakshmipathy Balaji to James Faulkner

6

SIX, hammered! But what is Balaji doing by bowling full tosses. That's slaughter waiting to happen. Faulkner biffs it back over his head and over the sightscreen. 17 off the first four balls. Can Faulkner finish this over off well? Can he hit another couple of maximums? Balaji is taking his time to set the field.

18.3

Lakshmipathy Balaji to James Faulkner

1

1 run, drilled to long-off, the throw is direct at the bowler's end but Malik has just about plonked his bat in. Wait, what do we have here? Malik hasn't touched his bat inside the crease when he turned back for the first run, so that will be one short. Well spotted by Dharmasena. The third umpire confirms that Malik had made it, but it will be one run less. That's poor from Malik.

18.2

Lakshmipathy Balaji to James Faulkner

6

SIX, can't bowl length to this fella. That's what Balaji does and he pays the price. Smashed flat and high over long-on. Faulkner is keeping the tiny flame alive. He has to play all the remaining 10 balls, for his side to have any chance

18.1

Lakshmipathy Balaji to James Faulkner

4

FOUR, low full toss, belted wide of cover, sweeper had no chance. Can Faulkner do the impossible?

Lakshmipathy Balaji [3.0-0-19-1] is back into the attack

End of over 18 ( 6 Runs )

JAI 131/8

James Faulkner* 4(3)

Vikramjeet Malik 0(0)

17.6

Akshar Patel to James Faulkner

1

1 run, calmly keeps strike by whipping it through mid-wicket

Vikramjeet Malik, right handed bat, comes to the crease

17.5

Akshar Patel to Kevon Cooper

W

out Caught by S Marsh!! Exceptional running catch from Marsh. Cooper sliced it high in the air, it was going to ground, but Marsh ran in a long way from wide long-off and flung himself forward to grab the catch with both hands, even as he went to ground. Gets up and throws the ball away in delight. The Punjab team rush to mob the Western Australian on a special catch. Preity Zinta liked the catch so much, that she almost burst her gut by shrieking so loudly, that the screams could be heard till Jaipur. K Cooper c S Marsh b A Patel 2(2)

3 wickets for Akshar Patel. Akshar Patel is on a roll.

17.4

Akshar Patel to Kevon Cooper

2

2 runs, a lofted hit over cover, inside out and the ball is stopped by wide long-off

Kevon Cooper, right handed bat, comes to the crease

17.3

Akshar Patel to Brad Hodge

W

out Stumped!! That could be the game. Akshar Patel kept his cool and beat Hodge with one that was darted in, the batsman gave the charge, but the ball snuck under his bat, and Saha did the rest. Akshar celebrates the wicket with a vigorous fist pump. Hodge st W Saha b A Patel 31(18) [4s-2 6s-2]

17.2

Akshar Patel to Brad Hodge

2

2 runs, slogged to deep mid-wicket, Hendricks fumbles but Miller is there to mop it up

30 runs for Brad Hodge

17.1

Akshar Patel to James Faulkner

1

1 run, slogged to deep mid-wicket

End of over 17 ( 22 Runs )

JAI 125/6

Brad Hodge* 29(16)

James Faulkner 2(1)

16.6

Beuran Hendricks to Brad Hodge

6

SIX, 22 off the over. Full and in the slot for the lofted hit over long-on, Hodge with one clean swing of the bat, sends it way back into the stands. Preity Zinta looks a tad worried in the Punjab camp. This game isn't over yet folks, don't count these two Aussies and Rajasthan out, especially with Cooper yet to bat.

16.5

Beuran Hendricks to Brad Hodge

0

no run, well bowled. The back of the hand slower delivery, Hodge was looking to pull and then pulled out of the shot, as the ball went over his head. Rightly not called a wide

16.4

Beuran Hendricks to Brad Hodge

2

2 runs, steps down and reaches out, to slice it down to third man for a couple of runs

16.3

Beuran Hendricks to Brad Hodge

4

FOUR, Hodge is keeping this alive. Shaun Marsh overran the ball from long-on and allowed the boundary. It was hit to his left, Marsh went too far across, the ball bounced in front of him and spun away from his right-hand. A great start to the over. Can he keep it going?

Back round the wicket now is Hendricks

16.2

Beuran Hendricks to Brad Hodge

4

FOUR, that's a great shot. He had made a lot of room to go over cover, Beuran Hendricks fired it wide outside off, Hodge reached out and squeezed the drive, beating sweeper cover to his right. 10 off the first two balls. Is the game still alive?

16.1

Beuran Hendricks to Brad Hodge

6

SIX, Hodge has hit that right out of the screws. Stays back and sees the short delivery, pulls it mightily over the deep mid-wicket fence. The white ball soared over the fence

Beuran Hendricks [2.0-0-21-0] is back into the attack

End of over 16 ( 11 Runs )

JAI 103/6

James Faulkner* 2(1)

Brad Hodge 7(10)

15.6

Akshar Patel to James Faulkner

2

2 runs, gently works this to mid-wicket, placed in the gap for a couple of runs. They need a repeat of the Faulkner-Smith heroics versus Bangalore, if they are to have any chance of winning this game

James Faulkner, right handed bat, comes to the crease

15.5

Akshar Patel to Rahul Tewatia

W

out Caught by Karanveer Singh!! This time a simple catch to deep backward square leg. Tewatia tried to launch this over the fence, but completely mishit it, although he was going with the turn. Another nail in the coffin. Rahul Tewatia c Karanveer Singh b A Patel 16(13) [6s-1]

15.4

Akshar Patel to Rahul Tewatia

6

SIX, just about clears the leaping deep mid-wicket to the fence. The slog-sweep from Tewatia and he just about gets enough on it to clear the fielder on the fence. They need much more of these big hits

100 runs for JAI

15.3

Akshar Patel to Brad Hodge

1

1 run, shuffles across a tad, worked off the back foot to long-on

15.2

Akshar Patel to Rahul Tewatia

1

1 run, goes down on one knee and tries to slog hard to leg, off the toe-end and down to long-on

15.1

Akshar Patel to Brad Hodge

1

1 run, fraction short outside off, cut away to cover point

Akshar Patel [2.0-0-7-0] is back into the attack

This innings is going nowhere. Punjab have a stranglehold of the match and it looks likely that the final game between Mumbai and Rajasthan will be a straight shootout for the last playoff spot - even though Mumbai still need to win by a certain margin.

End of over 15 ( 8 Runs )

JAI 92/5

Rahul Tewatia* 9(10)

Brad Hodge 5(8)

14.6

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Rahul Tewatia

0

no run, makes room and tries to slog it across the line, is early into the shot and misses with the attempted big hit

14.5

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Brad Hodge

1

1 run, low full toss, swung away without any timing to deep mid-wicket

14.5

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Brad Hodge

1wd

wide, down leg, Hodge tries to swing and doesn't connect

14.4

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Brad Hodge

2

2 runs, glanced down to fine leg, the fielder dives and prevents the boundary. A couple of runs

14.3

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Rahul Tewatia

1lb

leg byes, 1 run, Tewatia is in no position to play the slog, looks awkward while playing that stroke, nearly is thrown off his feet as he lost all balance. They take a leg bye as the ball rolls off the body

14.2

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Rahul Tewatia

2

2 runs, full and outside off, Tewatia shuffles across and looks to ramp over the keeper, gets a bit of glove over Saha, they come back for a couple of runs

14.1

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Brad Hodge

1

1 run, softly dabs the length ball to point and sets off for a quick single. Even Rahul Tewatia responded in kind.

Lakshmipathy Balaji [2.0-0-12-1] is back into the attack

End of over 14 ( 1 Runs )

JAI 84/5

Brad Hodge* 1(5)

Rahul Tewatia 7(7)

13.6

Karanveer Singh to Brad Hodge

1

1 run, Hodge looks to defend and the ball runs off the inside edge down to backward square leg for a single. A great over from Karanveer Singh comes to an end

13.5

Karanveer Singh to Brad Hodge

0

no run, too close to cut and Hodge is lucky not to edge that. Wasn't far from the off stump either. Karanveer Singh is impressing with each passing delivery

13.4

Karanveer Singh to Brad Hodge

0

no run, calmly defends again

13.3

Karanveer Singh to Brad Hodge

0

no run, what was that? Shane Warne in disguise? Hodge was shell-shocked looking at the way the ball gripped and turned. Pitched way outside leg, then as Hodge came forward to defend, the amount of turn made the ball rip past the outside edge with a lot of bounce. Saha did extremely well to gather behind the stumps. That was a jaffa

13.2

Karanveer Singh to Brad Hodge

0

no run, floated on middle, Hodge gets forward to defend

Brad Hodge, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Can Hodge work some magic and help Rajasthan to an unlikely win? You never know what's coming!

13.1

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

W

out Stumped!! It's not happening again for Samson! He edged a few trying hit the spinners back over their head by advancing down the track, but this time he misses it completely and Saha does the rest behind the sticks! Nicely floated from Karanveer Singh, beat Samson in the flight, the ball spun away and went past Samson's outside edge. Rajasthan in huge trouble now! Samson st W Saha b Karanveer Singh 30(29) [4s-2 6s-1]

5 wickets down for JAI. Out batsman is Sanju Samson

End of over 13 ( 6 Runs )

JAI 83/4

Sanju Samson* 30(28)

Rahul Tewatia 7(7)

12.6

Akshar Patel to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, fired full outside off stump, Samson shimmies down the track and drills it hard to sweeper cover

30 runs for Sanju Samson

12.5

Akshar Patel to Rahul Tewatia

1lb

leg byes, 1 run, goes for a cheeky little reverse sweep, but misses and is hit just outside leg stump. Anyway the ball pitched outside leg to rule out doubts of LBW

12.4

Akshar Patel to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, short and just outside off stump, Samson punches it uppishly to long-off

Akshar Patel to Rahul Tewatia

Akshar Patel to Sanju Samson

1 run, another outside edge as Samson tries to go straight down the ground, again no slip in place and it rolls to short third man

12.1

Akshar Patel to Rahul Tewatia

1lb

leg byes, 1 run, round the wicket, flighted delivery pitching just outside leg stump, Tewatia misses the sweep and is hit on the pad, they sneak a leg bye though as it rolls behind square leg

Akshar Patel [1.0-0-3-0] is back into the attack

End of over 12 ( 7 Runs )

JAI 77/4

Rahul Tewatia* 6(4)

Sanju Samson 27(25)

11.6

Karanveer Singh to Rahul Tewatia

1

1 run, floated up outside off stump, Tewatia tries to go over cover but mistimes it to wide long-off

11.5

Karanveer Singh to Rahul Tewatia

2

2 runs, this time he launches one over deep extra-over, Miller moves to his left from sweeper cover and saves two

11.4

Karanveer Singh to Rahul Tewatia

2

2 runs, swept powerfully, but Rishi Dhawan in the deep does well to run to his right from deep square leg and flick the ball in play. Flighted delivery on the stumps, Tewatia got the placement right but didn't have enough power behind it

11.3

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, thankfully for Samson, there was no one at slip. He tried to loft this flighted delivery out of the ground, but only an outside edge results and it rolls to short third man

11.2

Karanveer Singh to Rahul Tewatia

Karanveer Singh to Stuart Binny

W

out Caught by S Marsh!! Karanveer Singh deserved that wicket. Once again he beats a batsman in flight, Binny was followed by the bowler even as he advanced, he had no room to work with, yet he went through with the lofted hit, no timing and he has holed out to long-off. Rajasthan sink further. Binny c S Marsh b Karanveer Singh 7(10)

Rishi Dhawan to Stuart Binny

Rishi Dhawan to Stuart Binny

2 runs, opens the face of the bat and runs it down to third man, a couple taken as the ball went wide of the fielder

10.2

Rishi Dhawan to Stuart Binny

0

no run, tries to drive through off, gets a thick inside half down to the leg-side

10.1

Rishi Dhawan to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, Samson isn't happy with his bat after he completely toe-ends a loft towards long-on. If he had caught that properly, he would've holed out

End of over 10 ( 6 Runs )

JAI 64/3

Sanju Samson* 25(23)

Stuart Binny 2(4)

9.6

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, shortish on the stumps, punched off the back foot to long-off

9.5

Karanveer Singh to Stuart Binny

1

1 run, dabbed down to cover point

9.5

Karanveer Singh to Stuart Binny

1wd

wide, way down leg and Binny nearly killed Saha with a powerful swipe, luckily for Saha, the batsman didn't connect

9.4

Karanveer Singh to Stuart Binny

0

no run, backs away and punches it hard, but straight to the fielder at cover

9.3

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, makes room and lofts it without much timing to long-off

9.2

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

2

2 runs, comes down the track and tries to go inside out, but the ball rolls off the thick inside edge to deep square leg, couple taken

9.1

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

0

no run, gets forward and defends towards mid-wicket

End of over 9 ( 2 Runs )

JAI 58/3

Sanju Samson* 21(19)

Stuart Binny 1(2)

8.6

Rishi Dhawan to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, gets forward and plays a copybook off-drive to long-off

8.5

Rishi Dhawan to Sanju Samson

0

no run, flicked from the stumps to mid-wicket

8.4

Rishi Dhawan to Stuart Binny

1

1 run, steers it uppishly down to third man

8.3

Rishi Dhawan to Stuart Binny

0

no run, no hat-trick! The keeper is back and forces Dhawan to bowl a bit shorter, Binny defends off the back foot to point. A slip too was in place for this delivery and he was just a spectator

Stuart Binny, right handed bat, comes to the crease

8.2

Rishi Dhawan to Shane Watson

W

out Bowled!! Dhawan is on a hat-trick and he is jumping in delight. Dhawan has nipped out Watson, penetrating the slightest of bat-pad gaps to hit off. The ball swung back in late and Watson was trying to dab it down to third man. Somehow the ball sneaked through. Bailey is a happy man even as the disconsolate Rajasthan skipper walks back. Watson b R Dhawan 0(1)

3 wickets down for JAI. Out batsman is Shane Watson

Shane Watson, right handed bat, comes to the crease

8.1

Rishi Dhawan to Ajinkya Rahane

W

out Bowled!! How did Rahane miss a straight ball? Played across the line and missed it. The bowler looks to be fine with the no-ball, he is and Rahane has to walk back after waiting for a while. Nothing great about the delivery, a cutter on off, Rahane looking to go through mid-wicket missed the flick and the ball hit off. Rahane b R Dhawan 23(26) [4s-2]

Rishi Dhawan [2.0-0-17-0] is back into the attack

End of over 8 ( 2 Runs )

JAI 56/1

Sanju Samson* 20(17)

Ajinkya Rahane 23(25)

7.6

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

0

no run, a mistimed cut into the cover region to end what was a super opening over from the debutant Karanveer Singh

7.5

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

0

no run, Karanveer Singh looks a good prospect even though he has bowled just 5 balls. He deceives Samson in flight, as the batsman was stepping out to attack, eventually Samson has to defend to cover

Karanveer Singh to Ajinkya Rahane

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

1 run, again the ball drops on Samson, but he reaches out and pushes it to long-off

7.2

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

0

no run, gets forward and defends softly to the leg-side

7.1

Karanveer Singh to Sanju Samson

0

no run, beautiful start. Yet another leggie in this year's tournament and he beats Samson with a good leg-break, the ball dips and beats the batsman's attempt to run it down to third man. Encouraging beginning

Karanveer Singh, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack

Timeout time

End of over 7 ( 10 Runs )

JAI 54/1

Sanju Samson* 19(12)

Ajinkya Rahane 22(24)

6.6

Beuran Hendricks to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, short of length outside off, Samson stands tall and punches it hard on the off-side

6.5

Beuran Hendricks to Sanju Samson

6

SIX, hooked for six. Good short delivery, near the badge of the helmet, Samson though takes it on and hooks it all the way over the man stationed for the catch. Both batsmen have a chat after that stroke

50 runs for JAI

6.4

Beuran Hendricks to Sanju Samson

0

no run, slower ball outside off, Samson lets it go, thinking it will be called a wide, but it is just inside the guideline. Just inside

6.3

Beuran Hendricks to Ajinkya Rahane

1

1 run, short of length on off, pulled hard and on the bounce to deep mid-wicket

6.2

Beuran Hendricks to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, an inside edge as Samson looks to push to the off-side, Rahane is quick to spot the chance for a quick single and calls his junior partner through

6.1

Beuran Hendricks to Ajinkya Rahane

1

1 run, full and outside off, Rahane slashes and the thick outside edge nearly carries all the way to third man. On the bounce to the man

Beuran Hendricks [1.0-0-11-0] is back into the attack

End of over 6 ( 13 Runs )

JAI 44/1

Sanju Samson* 11(8)

Ajinkya Rahane 20(22)

5.6

Rishi Dhawan to Sanju Samson

4

FOUR, buffet ball. Full toss down leg, begging to be hit and that has been flicked away to the deep mid-wicket fence. Minimum effort needed to put that away

5.5

Rishi Dhawan to Sanju Samson

0

no run, opens the face of the bat again, but can't beat point this time

5.4

Rishi Dhawan to Sanju Samson

4

FOUR, magnificent batting! Picked the slower cutter on off, allowed the ball to come onto him, opened the face at the last moment and ran it down to the third man fence. Was all about soft hands and playing it late which Samson did to a nicety. Punches gloves with Rahane as he likes that shot.

The keeper is up to the stumps now

5.3

Rishi Dhawan to Ajinkya Rahane

1lb

leg byes, 1 run, was it going down leg? Yes it was. Though Rahane got a bit across, and missed the clip, the angle would've taken it down leg. Dharmasena gets it right, though Dhawan belted out a concerted appeal

5.2

Rishi Dhawan to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, flicked in the air, but doesn't carry to the man at mid-wicket. On the bounce

5.1

Rishi Dhawan to Ajinkya Rahane

4

FOUR, super shot. Chips down the track and takes it on the half-volley, drills it in the air, but wide of mid-off. Just a checked-loft that

End of over 5 ( 3 Runs )

JAI 31/1

Sanju Samson* 3(5)

Ajinkya Rahane 16(19)

4.6

Akshar Patel to Sanju Samson

0

no run, flatter and on off, punched back to the bowler

4.5

Akshar Patel to Ajinkya Rahane

1

1 run, darting back in, with some shape, pushed off the front foot down to long-on

4.4

Akshar Patel to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, backs away and cuts it straight to the fielder at point

4.3

Akshar Patel to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, makes room, but the ball follows him, pushed to cover with an open face

4.2

Akshar Patel to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, gets forward and punches it towards long-off

4.1

Akshar Patel to Ajinkya Rahane

1

1 run, tossed up outside off, driven to deep extra cover

Akshar Patel, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack

End of over 4 ( 5 Runs )

JAI 28/1

Ajinkya Rahane* 14(15)

Sanju Samson 2(3)

3.6

Rishi Dhawan to Ajinkya Rahane

1

1 run, ah! Rahane has missed out on a boundary opportunity! Friendly short of length delivery on the pads, Rahane clips it away but picks out short fine leg. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but the throw was way off target

3.5

Rishi Dhawan to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, allows the short of length delivery to come and nicely guides it away to third man

3.4

Rishi Dhawan to Ajinkya Rahane

1

1 run, Balaji dives to his left at short fine leg and half-stops the ball! Short of a length delivery on the leg stump, Rahane glances it well but can't beat the fielder

3.4

Rishi Dhawan to Ajinkya Rahane

1wd

wide, sprays this down the leg side, a fine little tickle would have been four

3.3

Rishi Dhawan to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, the inswing almost foxed Rahane on that occasion. As the length was a touch short from Rishi, Rahane was lining up for the cut shot, but the late movement forced him to adjust, in the process he lost his bottom hand grip but managed to chop it to point eventually

3.2

Rishi Dhawan to Sanju Samson

1

1 run, again the shape back into the right-hander, but there is enough room for Samson to work with and he steers it easily to third man

3.1

Rishi Dhawan to Sanju Samson

0

no run, bit of inswing on offer for Rishi straightaway. Good length delivery on the off stump, Samson covers the sticks and defends well

Rishi Dhawan, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

End of over 3 ( 7 Runs )

JAI 23/1

Ajinkya Rahane* 12(12)

Sanju Samson 0(0)

2.6

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Ajinkya Rahane

2

2 runs, good cricket all around. Firstly, Rahane did well to get inside the line and glance this length ball very fine knowing that fine leg was very square, then Akshar Patel covered good ground, did well to dive full length and stop the ball that was travelling quickly

2.5

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, fine shape away from the right-hander on this short of length delivery, Rahane simply shoulders arms to that one

Sanju Samson, right handed bat, comes to the crease

2.4

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Karun Nair

W

out Caught by Bailey!! Stay away from the coach youngman, for you've played a dreadful shot! Why get greedy after smashing a boundary earlier in the over! This was nothing but a short of length delivery outside off stump, Nair advanced down the track and tried to muscle it over the on-side, he mistimed it completely as the bat turned in his hands and it went straight up in the air, the fielder at cover settled under it and took it comfortably. Nair c Bailey b Balaji 11(6) [4s-2]

2.3

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Karun Nair

0

no run, good length delivery just outside off stump, Nair respects it with a forward defence

2.2

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Karun Nair

4

FOUR, now he's crashed it from the middle of the bat! Not all that short from Balaji, Nair backed away to the leg-side and smashed the cut shot really hard, the fielder at cover-point tried to move to his right and stop the ball but it was already past him in a flash

2.1

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Ajinkya Rahane

1

1 run, Jinks uses the pace of this short of length delivery close to off stump and steers it to thrid man

End of over 2 ( 11 Runs )

JAI 16/0

Karun Nair* 7(3)

Ajinkya Rahane 9(9)

1.6

Beuran Hendricks to Karun Nair

4

FOUR, a man at cover-point would have swallowed that but there's no one there. Risky hit from Nair. He doesn't try to keep the cut shot along the ground, hits it uppishly and it speeds into the fence. Hendricks started the over very well, but he lost it as it progressed. It was the slower delivery in fact, the length was short enough for the batsman to play the cut

1.5

Beuran Hendricks to Karun Nair

0

no run, short delivery just outside off stump, Nair sits under it

1.4

Beuran Hendricks to Ajinkya Rahane

3

3 runs, too straight from Hendricks on that occasion, Rahane takes the risk of playing across the line, he hits it to mid-wicket and says no initially as the fielder tries to stop it with a dive. Rahane saw the ball going past the fielder and called Nair through and they run three eventually

1.3

Beuran Hendricks to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, short of length delivery climbing high, Rahane hops and manages to fend it into the off-side

1.2

Beuran Hendricks to Karun Nair

3

3 runs, first ball and Nair has no problems in timing the ball! Fullish and swinging back in, Nair flicks it past mid-wicket, the man at deep backward square leg puts in the dive and saves a run at the fence

1.1

Beuran Hendricks to Ajinkya Rahane

1

1 run, how on earth did he manage to dig it out? Wow! Great start from Hendricks! An inswinging yorker on the leg stump, Rahane was late to pick it up, somehow he brings his bat down in time to get a thick edge that rolls through backward square leg

Beuran Hendricks, left-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

End of over 1 ( 5 Runs )

JAI 5/0

Ajinkya Rahane* 5(6)

Karun Nair 0(0)

0.6

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Ajinkya Rahane

1

1 run, a drop and run single, Rahane just gently taps the short of length delivery to backward point and sets off

0.5

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, when you can beat the outside edge by shaping the ball away, why would you want to bowl short? Fine delivery by Balaji. Short of a length and swinging away, Rahane pokes and misses

0.4

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Ajinkya Rahane

4

FOUR, short and just outside off stump, Rahane tries to go over mid-wicket, but doesn't make proper contact, the ball goes off the inside half of the bat and goes over mid-on. Not where he intended but he'll take it

0.3

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, on a length and outside off stump, Rahane pushes it to point

0.2

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, fine delivery from Balaji! Rahane feels for the ball and gets beaten. Short of a length delivery shaping away outside off stump, Rahane tries to dab it to third man but misses

0.1

Lakshmipathy Balaji to Ajinkya Rahane

0

no run, a friendly low full toss just outside off stump, Rahane gently works it to mid-on

Rahane and Nair are at the crease. Rahane is on strike. Balaji will open the attack